The power grid on the island of Cuba collapsed at 9:14 am local time on 10 September, leaving most of the country’s 9.7 million residents without electricity. The country’s energy ministry and the National Electric Union stated that there had been a total disconnection of the Electric System.
Soon afterwards the NEU reported that power restoration efforts ‘were underway’ following the nationwide blackout, which marked the fourth such occurrence in less than a year. State-run media confirmed that airports and essential services, including hospitals and water pumps, continued to be operational owing to their backup systems. An investigation into the causes of the grid failure is reported to be ongoing.
The island has a history of power blackouts. It has been taking between two and three days for power to be fully restored after similar incidents in the past. Prior to the latest grid collapse, residents were already enduring daily blackouts lasting 16 hours or more. This series of blackouts has highlighted the fragile state of Cuba’s power generation system, which has been in near-total disarray since late last year, according to the Reuters news agency.
Long term prospects
Cuba’s challenges have been exacerbated by these grid failures, as the country grapples with fuel, food, and other shortages, alongside its most severe economic crisis in decades. The nation’s oil-fired power plants, which are old and have struggled to maintain power, faced a crisis last year as oil imports from key suppliers such as Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico decreased significantly.
